RVIA Economic Impact Study

The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association commissioned an Economic Impact Study on the RV industry, released on June 7, 2016. The study found that the RV industry contributes about $49.7 billion in economic output or 0.28 percent of the Gross Domestic Product. Through its production and distribution linkages, the industry impacts firms in 426 of the 440 sectors of the United States economy.

Nationwide, the industry is responsible for 216,170 jobs, both directly and inderectly, creating an economic impact of $37.5 billion. The full study results, along with each individual state and congressional district's economic impact is available on the website by clicking here .

MARVAC Foundation Renamed Tim DeWitt HARVEST Education Foundation

Wed Mar 8, 2017

OKEMOS, Michigan - The Michigan Association of Recreation Vehicles and Campgrounds has announced the renaming of the association's nonprofit foundation as The Tim DeWitt HARVEST Education Foundation in honor of his nearly four decades of service to the organization and his upcoming retirement.

DeWitt founded the HARVEST Education Foundation in 1995. To date, the 501(c)(3) has awarded more than $304,000 in financial aid to 569 students, some of whom are pursuing an education in the recreational vehicle or campground, manufactured and modular homes or the self-storage industries.

"Renaming the scholarship was the least we could do to honor the vision and passion Tim feels for this industry," MARVAC Executive Director Bill Sheffer says, who became executive director of MMH/RVCA and Self-Storage Association of Michigan after DeWitt retired in 2016. "Due to his creating the HARVEST Education Foundation, he has encouraged fresh interest in the RV and campground industries."

Students awarded the scholarships will be attending colleges across the state - from Cedarville University to Michigan State University to Grand Valley State University. MARVAC is now accepting applications for the 2017/2018 scholarship. Last year, 14 college-bound students were recipients of a 2016/2017 HARVEST Education scholarship. The college scholarships were valued between $750 and $1,000. Applications for scholarships for the 2017/2018 academic year are now being accepted.

"It was only fitting that the scholarship be renamed for Tim, considering all he has done for the industry," All Seasons Communications Founder Ken Monicatti says, which manages the nonprofit program. Monicatti was an original proponent of the HARVEST idea when DeWitt first proposed it, 22 years ago. "He should be proud of what he has accomplished with this program."